Microbiologist salary in Illinois
Microbiologists in Illinois earn a median of $92,050 a year ($44.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,300 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $87,990. Illinois ranks 6th of 42 states for microbiologists pay. There are 0.24 microbiologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $93,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for microbiologists in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| 25th percentile | $66,770 | $32.10 |
| Median | $92,050 | $44.26 |
| 75th percentile | $112,210 | $53.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,300 | $61.20 |
| Average (mean) | $93,850 | $45.12 |
Half of microbiologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,670.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,835.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,540.38 |
| Weekly | $1,770.19 |
| Hourly | $44.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Microbiologist salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,620 | 1,240 |
| Peoria, IL | $93,240 | 30 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $89,630 | 120 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $66,560 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for microbiologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $122,350 |
| California | $108,530 |
| Maryland | $108,470 |
| Georgia | $103,070 |
| New Jersey | $96,020 |
| Illinois | $92,050 |
| Oregon | $89,220 |
| Montana | $87,750 |
| Connecticut | $86,360 |
| North Carolina | $85,860 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $82,640 | $39.73 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $79,490 | $38.21 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $94,340 | $45.35 |
| Conservation Scientist | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| Epidemiologist | $102,720 | $49.39 |
| Forester | $82,160 | $39.50 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $66,190 | $31.82 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $87,010 | $41.83 |
| Animal Scientist | $47,930 | $23.05 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Chemist | $85,230 | $40.98 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a microbiologist make in Illinois?
The median salary for microbiologists in Illinois is $92,050 a year, or $44.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid microbiologists make in Illinois?
The top 10% of microbiologists in Illinois earn at least $127,300 a year. The top 25% earn $112,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for microbiologists in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,780 a year, and a quarter of microbiologists earn $66,770 or less.
How many microbiologists work in Illinois?
About 1,470 microbiologists are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.